-
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment abolished slavery. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude...shall exist within the United States or any place subject to their jurisdiction". -
14th Amendmemt
The 14th amendment redefined citizenship in the United States. It stated that "all persons born in th U.S." were citizens, and were to be given "full and equal benefit of all laws." -
15th Amendment
Stated that "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Which means that all citizens could now vote no matter what race. -
Plessy Vs. Ferguson
A Louisiana state law required that African Americans be provided with "seperate but equal" railroad carriages. Plessy, who was 7/8 caucasian, was arrested for sitting in the "Whites Only" carriage. Ferguson won the case against Plessy. -
19th Amendment
The 19th Amendment gave women the right to vote. "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex." -
Executive Order of 1948
President Truman called for the desegregation of the military."It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." The Korean War was the first desegregated war. -
Brown Vs. Board of Education
Linda Brown, an African American third grader, was forced to change schools when she enrolled in an all white school close to her house. They made her change to a school farther away just because she was black. They went to court and finally after 3 years won their case. -
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her seat
Rosa Parks was sitting in a seat on a bus behind the rows of reserved white seats. When the bus filled up, she along with other African Americans were asked to give up their seats to the white passengers. She refused and was then arrested. This event caused the civil rights movement to take a step forward. -
Montgomery bus boycott
Angered by the arrest of Rosa Parks, people began boycotting the use of buses as transportation. It lasted thirteen months and ended with ruling that segregation on public buses was unconstitutional. It was a nonviolent form of protest that worked to their advantage. -
Civil Rights Act
It ensured that all African Americans could exercise their right to vote. It aimed to increase the number of registered black voters. There was mixed reactions and did not have much support since the majority of jury members were white. -
24th Amendment
The right of citizens of the United States to vote in any primary or other election for President or Vice President, for electors for President or Vice President, or for Senator or Representative in Congress, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state by reason of failure to pay any poll tax or other tax. -
Civil Rights Act (1964)
This outlawed any major segregation against African Americans and women, including racial segregation. It ended racial segregation in schools, the workplace and in the general public. -
Voting Rigths Act
It declared that any citizen had the right to vote and that denying anybody this right was illegal no matter what race or color they were. It sparked political controversy but held up over the years. -
Civil Rights Act (1968)
This stated that equal housing opportunities be available for everyone regardless of race, creed, or national origin. It was commonly known as the Fair Housing Act.
